Lemma Kasaye substantially improved the old record of 2:08:19, set in 2015 by his compatriot Limeniha Getachewa, and recorded the seventh best time at IAAF-licensed marathons this year.

"I ran a very good result even though the weather was not the best. I'd like to thank the organiser for enabling me to be here with my family, this helped me additionally. The weather was really challenging but I was confident. The rhythm of the pacemakers was too slow and I decided to run alone after 10 km, since 2:04 was my goal," Kasaye said after the race.

Second place went to another Ethiopian, Gebretsadik Abraha Adihana (2:08:36) and third to Hiskel Twelde from Eritrea (2:08:49), while the best Slovenian was Matic Modic in 15th place (2:31:58).

Kasaye was rewarded with EUR 60,000 for the win and the record, while the winner of the women's competition Jepkesho earned EUR 45,000.

The new women's course record is also a significant improvement on the 2:25:24 set in 2009 by Kenyan Caroline Cheptanui Kilel and had Jepkesho winning by a comfortable margin. Selly Chepyego from Kenya was second (2:23:15) and Dibabe Kuma from Ethiopia third (2:23:34). The best Slovenian was Barbara Trunkelj in eight place (2:50:11).

Jepkesho thanked the second- and third-placed runners after the race: "We helped each other a lot and this is why the race was faster. I'm not really used to running in the rain but this was a very good experience for me and I managed to set my personal best and course record."

The Ljubljana Marathon is the most popular running event in Slovenia and had almost 27,000 singing up for the various races held during the weekend. Despite the unkind weather, 20,578 showed up in total and 13,544 for the 10-km, 21-km and 42-km races.